L.A. OKs removing 600 parking meters from San Pedro, Wilmington

More than 600 parking meters will be removed from San Pedro and Wilmington streets under a Los Angeles City Council move Wednesday that also will lower the rates on meters left in place.

The measure, approved unanimously, also establishes some limited free parking in city-owned lots.

Next up: A meter removal ceremony that will be scheduled "in the near future" by Los Angeles Councilman Joe Buscaino, who sponsored the motion. Once that happens, the meters will be yanked the following day.

Parking meter rates once were 25 cents an hour in the Harbor Area but jumped fourfold in 2009 - to $1 an hour - as part of a citywide budget ordinance.

Many business owners have complained that the high rates have discouraged shoppers from coming to the downtown areas in San Pedro and Wilmington.

Under the ordinance, 540 under-used meters will be removed from San Pedro and 105 meters will be taken off Wilmington streets.

Rates will be reduced to 75 cents an hour or 50 cents an hour, depending on the demand in various areas where meters remain. All meters will continue to carry a two-hour time limit.

Andrew Silber, owner of the Whale & Ale on Seventh Street in downtown San Pedro, said he is "very pleased" with the decision to reduce parking meter rates in front of his restaurant.

"Getting rid of the meters might have been a mixed blessing because there's a tendency for people to park all day when the meters are removed," Silber said. "I think this is a good compromise. Plus, (Buscaino) removed meters adjacent to the town center on Eighth and Ninth streets, so people who want to park all day can without impacting downtown."

Currently, San Pedro has 872 meters and Wilmington 231.

Meters will be pulled from several blocks of Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Ninth streets, along with stretches of Pacific Avenue.

Rates will be reduced at meters on Sixth between Mesa and Centre streets, on Centre between Sixth and Seventh streets, Pacific between Seventh and Eighth, and on Eighth west of Pacific.

Michael Mishi, who owns Mishi's Strudel at 309 W. Seventh St., said he welcomed the price reduction and hopes parking enforcement would be less aggressive.

"We are desperately trying to get people to come downtown again," Mishi said. "They are all going to Western Avenue, where there is plenty of parking for free."

The price reduction might help business, Mishi said, but customers still must concern themselves with feeding the meters to avoid tickets.

"If someone has a retail store selling something, you go in and buy something and leave," he said. "I have a cafe. People come in and have a cup of coffee and strudel and sit down and enjoy it. But if they have to watch the time and run out and be nervous about parking, it is affecting my business.

"That's why I am not jumping for joy. But anything we can claim has been alleviated is good."

In Wilmington, meters will be removed on Avalon Boulevard between Denni and Opp streets, on Marine Avenue between I and G streets, on Anaheim Street between Fries Avenue and Avalon and between Broad and Lakme avenues, and on I Street between Avalon and Broad.